Amit Shah offers prayers at Bhagyalakshmi temple before BJP Maha Padyatra in Hyderabad
Synopsis
Amit Shah's Hyderabad visit is more than a temple run — it is a direct political counter-punch. By leading a foot march through the heart of old Hyderabad and invoking democracy rhetoric, the BJP is signalling that it intends to contest Congress's political ground in Telangana head-on, with the Ramlila Maidan rally in its crosshairs.
Key Takeaways
Home Minister Amit Shah offered prayers at Bhagyalakshmi temple near Charminar, Hyderabad on 2 November .
He is leading the BJP's Maha Padyatra from Basheerbagh to Moazzam Jahi Market under the 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' campaign.
The march is organised as a counter to the INDIA bloc's anti-SIR campaign .
Telangana BJP president N.
Ramchander Rao criticised CM Revanth Reddy for attending the Ramlila Maidan rally amid Telangana's water crisis.
Shah is expected to address a corner meeting at Moazzam Jahi Market and respond to the INDIA bloc's Delhi rally.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, 2 November offered prayers at the Bhagyalakshmi temple, situated adjacent to the historic Charminar in Hyderabad's old city, ahead of leading the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) Maha Padyatra — a foot march organised under the party's nationwide campaign 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy'.
Arrival and Temple Visit
Shah was accorded a warm reception upon landing at Begumpet Airport, where he was welcomed by Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao, BJP MPs, and other party leaders. He then proceeded directly to the Bhagyalakshmi temple, where he offered prayers alongside Kishan Reddy and Ramchander Rao.
The Maha Padyatra: Route and Purpose
The foot march is scheduled to proceed from the Babu Jagjivan Ram Statue at Basheerbagh to Moazzam Jahi Market. The BJP has framed the padyatra as a direct counter to the anti-SIR (Special Investigation Report) campaign launched by the INDIA bloc. Shah is also expected to address a corner meeting at Moazzam Jahi Market, where he is anticipated to respond to the INDIA bloc's rally held at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi the previous day.
BJP's Attack on Congress and Telangana Government
Telangana BJP president Ramchander Rao, in a post on X, said the party offered special prayers at the Bhagyalakshmi temple 'for strength to fight deshdrohi forces attempting to create anarchy in our country.' He also sharply criticised the Congress party, saying, 'Telangana will never forgive Congress for its attempts to plunge our nation into anarchy.' He added: 'Our country will not be run by the riot-mongering politics of Rahul Gandhi, but by the Constitution and people's mandate.'
Ramchander Rao further targeted Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for attending Sunday's Ramlila Maidan rally, alleging that while the state faces a severe water crisis, the chief minister and his administration were 'missing in action.' He said the CM was 'busy attending flop rallies to protect the votes of illegal infiltrators' instead of addressing the water crisis.
Political Context
The Hyderabad padyatra is part of a broader BJP mobilisation against what the party describes as an INDIA bloc campaign to undermine democratic institutions and electoral processes. This comes amid heightened political tensions between the ruling Congress in Telangana and the BJP, with both sides escalating their rhetoric ahead of upcoming political milestones. The BJP has appealed to citizens to join the march in solidarity to 'safeguard constitutional institutions.'
Point of View
In the heart of old Hyderabad — carries unmistakable symbolism in a city that remains electorally contested. The BJP's 'Save Democracy' framing is a direct attempt to recast the narrative around the SIR controversy from a policy dispute into a constitutional crisis. What is notably absent from the BJP's messaging, however, is any substantive policy offer to Telangana — the focus is entirely reactive, positioning against Congress rather than presenting a governing alternative. In a state where the Congress won decisively in 2023, the BJP's mobilisation tactic here tests whether street energy can substitute for organisational depth.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Amit Shah visit Hyderabad on 2 November?
Shah visited Hyderabad to lead the BJP's Maha Padyatra, a foot march organised under the party's 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' campaign. The visit began with prayers at the Bhagyalakshmi temple near Charminar before the march from Basheerbagh to Moazzam Jahi Market.
What is the BJP's Maha Padyatra in Hyderabad about?
The Maha Padyatra is a foot march organised by the BJP as a counter to the INDIA bloc's anti-SIR (Special Investigation Report) campaign. The BJP has framed it as a march in defence of democracy and constitutional institutions.
What did BJP leaders say about the Ramlila Maidan rally?
Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao called the INDIA bloc's Sunday rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi a 'major flop.' He also criticised Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for attending the Delhi event while Telangana faces a severe water crisis.
Who accompanied Amit Shah during his Hyderabad visit?
Shah was accompanied by Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, and Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao, along with BJP MPs and party leaders who received him at Begumpet Airport.
What is the INDIA bloc's anti-SIR campaign that BJP is countering?
The INDIA bloc has been running an anti-SIR campaign, to which the BJP's 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' padyatras across India are a direct political response. The BJP argues the campaign threatens democratic institutions; the opposition's position is that it targets electoral malpractice.
